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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-23 Daily Xml
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FENNER, PROF. F.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:47): It was my pleasure on 17 December last year to represent the government, and in this case more specifically the minister, the Hon. Jack Snelling MP, in his then capacity as the minister for science and information, on the occasion of the state memorial service held at the Australian National University in Canberra for the late Professor Frank Fenner.

Professor Fenner most identified himself with the John Curtin School of Medical Research, of which he was a director for some years. His career at the ANU was long and distinguished. It also included being the first director of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES). The service program had messages from respected academics and scientists from Australia and worldwide. Whether one reads those messages or the public websites available, it is difficult to paraphrase his achievements as anything other than outstanding. One website sums it up well:

Professor Frank Fenner's outstanding career as a scientist has been marked by two achievements of considerable magnitude, namely the eradication of smallpox and the control of Australia's rabbit plague.

Although Professor Fenner won numerous awards for his contributions to pure science, it is these two achievements that have reduced human suffering and benefited society in countless ways. His work on smallpox, along with D.A. Henderson and I. Arita, was recognised by the Japan Prize (regarded as equivalent to the Nobel Prize except that it is for applied science) in 1988. I want to select several quotes from his memorial service booklet, firstly from Professor Julio Licinio MD, the now director of JCSMR:

In the 20th century alone five hundred million people died of smallpox. On 8 May 1980 Frank Fenner, chairman of the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication, announced the eradication of the world's most pathogenic disease. In my opinion this is the greatest medical accomplishment in history.

Professor Fenner gained international recognition by combating malaria amongst allied troops stationed in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War. His other achievements include his brilliant work with the myxoma virus, which addressed Australia's rabbit plague; global eradication of smallpox; and his subsequent work on environmental sciences. Professor Fenner accomplished, in one lifetime, what would be enough to justify four very successful careers.

A most gentle and unassuming man, it was this remarkable, and sadly unusual, confluence of a brilliant mind, remarkable research accomplishments, integrity, character, determination, and inspiration that made him so effective in everything he endeavoured. Is it possible for any one scientist to ever fill his shoes?

I quote from comments from Sir Gus Nossal, as follows:

More generally, we must give credit to Frank for the broad sweep and meticulous execution of his own research; for his highly effective leadership of JCSMR; for his assiduous promotion of international health through the World Health Organisation; for his foresight in recognising the importance of environmental research before almost anyone else in Australia; and for his extraordinary personal generosity to both the Australian Academy of Science and JCSMR. All of these accomplishments rested lightly on his shoulders, he was the most unassuming and unpretentious individual. What a life! We will not see his like again.

The service was led by the Hon. Dr Barry Jones, a former federal science minister. The service included both academics and Professor Fenner's family, in particular his daughter, with the presence of his granddaughter and great grandchild.

Some may not be aware that Professor Fenner still has an Adelaide connection, with his brother and family living in South Australia. Indeed, Professor Fenner was raised and educated in South Australia, attending Rose Park Primary School, Thebarton Technical College and the University of Adelaide.

Professor Fenner's father, Charles Fenner, was appointed South Australia's first superintendent for technical education in 1916 and appointed to the directorship of education in 1939. He also established the Geography Department of the University of Adelaide and was a regular broadcaster and publisher of science literature. The Fenners will be part of a documentary series exploring the lives of great Australian scientists whose work has changed the world. I hope to have the opportunity to speak further on this exciting initiative after its launch. I will conclude with some pertinent comments from Professor Judith Whitworth AC, a former director of JCSMR. She said:

The term 'hero' is much overused. True heroes are few and far between. Frank Fenner was a true Australian hero.

Time expired.

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